Remote antenna clusters and related systems, components, and methods supporting digital data signal propagation between remote antenna units

ABSTRACT

Distributed antenna systems supporting digital data signal propagation between remote antenna clusters, and related distributed antenna systems, components and methods are disclosed. The distributed antenna systems facilitate distributing digital data signals to provide digital data services remotely to distributed remote antenna units. The digital data signals may be propagated between remote antenna units within a remote antenna cluster for digital data signals transmitted to wireless client devices in the distributed antenna system and for digital data signals received from wireless client devices in the distributed antenna system. Received digital data signals from wireless client devices can be propagated from remote antenna unit to remote antenna unit in a remote antenna cluster until the digital data signals reach a wired network device for communication over a network. The remote antenna units may be configured to support high-frequency digital data signal to support larger channel bandwidths and in turn higher data rate transfers.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/762,432 filed Feb. 8, 2013, which is acontinuation application of International Application No.PCT/US2011/047821, filed Aug. 16, 2011, which claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/374,026,filed on Aug. 16, 2010, all applications being incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/892,424 filed on Sep. 28, 2010 entitled “Providing Digital DataServices in Optical Fiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF)Communications Systems, And Related Components and Methods,” whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/330,386filed on May 2, 2010 entitled “Providing Digital Data Services inOptical Fiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF) CommunicationsSystems, And Related Components and Methods,” both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The technology of the disclosure relates to optical fiber-baseddistributed communications/antenna systems for distributingcommunications signals over optical fiber.

2. Technical Background

Wireless communication is rapidly growing, with ever-increasing demandsfor high-speed mobile data communication. As an example, so-called“wireless fidelity” or “WiFi” systems and wireless local area networks(WLANs) are being deployed in many different types of areas (e.g.,coffee shops, airports, libraries, etc.). Distributed communications orantenna systems communicate with wireless devices called “clients,”which must reside within the wireless range or “cell coverage area” inorder to communicate with an access point device.

One approach to deploying a distributed antenna system involves the useof radio frequency (RF) antenna coverage areas, also referred to as“antenna coverage areas.” Antenna coverage areas can have a radius inthe range from a few meters up to twenty meters as an example. Combininga number of access point devices creates an array of antenna coverageareas. Because the antenna coverage areas each cover small areas, thereare typically only a few users (clients) per antenna coverage area. Thisallows for minimizing the amount of RF bandwidth shared among thewireless system users. It may be desirable to provide antenna coverageareas in a building or other facility to provide distributed antennasystem access to clients within the building or facility.

SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include remote antennaclusters and related distributed antenna systems, components, andmethods that support digital data signal propagation between remoteantenna units. The distributed antenna systems can facilitatedistributing digital data signals to distributed remote antenna units toprovide digital data services. Wireless client devices in thecommunication range of a remote antenna unit can wirelessly communicatewith the remote antenna unit to receive digital data services. As anon-limiting example, the remote antenna units may be wireless accesspoints that allow wireless client devices to connect to a wired networkusing a network protocol. The digital data signals may be communicatedat higher frequencies. Providing digital data services at higherfrequencies can support larger channel bandwidths and in turn higherdata rate transfers. Many digital data client devices can benefit fromhigher data transfer rates.

The remote antenna clusters and distributed antenna systems disclosedherein may be deployed in buildings or other indoor environments asnon-limiting examples. However, higher frequency wireless signals aremore easily attenuated or blocked from traveling through walls or otherbuilding structures where distributed antenna systems are installed. Inthis regard, the distributed antenna systems disclosed herein mayinclude RAUs configured to propagate the digital data signals betweeneach other. The RAUs may be grouped in remote antenna clusters and belocated sufficiently close to each other to avoid or reduce attenuationissues when the high-frequency digital data signals are propagatedbetween remote antenna units. The digital data signals may be propagatedbetween RAUs for digital data signals transmitted to wireless clientdevices in the remote antenna clusters and for digital data signalsreceived from wireless client devices in the remote antenna clusters.Received digital data signals from wireless client devices can bepropagated from RAU to RAU until the digital data signals reach a wirednetwork device for communication over a network.

In this regard in one embodiment, a remote antenna cluster supportingdigital data signal propagation among remote antenna units is provided.The remote antenna cluster comprises a first remote antenna unit (RAU).The first RAU is configured to receive downlink digital data signalsfrom a remotely located digital data services (DDS) controller over atleast one downlink communications link and communicate the receiveddownlink digital data signals to client devices. The first RAU is alsoconfigured to receive uplink digital data signals from the clientdevices and communicate the received uplink digital data signals over atleast one uplink communications link to the DDS switch. The first RAU isalso configured to propagate received downlink digital data signals toat least one second RAU. The first RAU is also configured to receiveuplink digital data signals from the at least one second RAU forcommunication over the at least one uplink communications link. The atleast one second RAU is configured to receive the downlink digital datasignals and communicate the received downlink digital data signals toclient devices. The at least one second RAU is also configured toreceive uplink digital data signals from the client devices. The atleast one second RAU is also configured to propagate the received uplinkdigital data signals for receipt by the first RAU.

In another embodiment, a method of propagating digital data signalsbetween remote antenna units in a remote antenna cluster is provided.The method includes receiving at a first remote antenna unit (RAU)downlink digital data signals over at least one downlink communicationslink from a remotely located digital data services (DDS) controller andcommunicating the received downlink digital data signals to clientdevices. The method also includes receiving in the first RAU, uplinkdigital data signals from the client devices and communicating thereceived uplink digital data signals over the at least one uplinkcommunications link to the DDS switch. The method also includespropagating the received downlink digital data signals from the firstRAU to at least one second RAU. The method also includes receivinguplink digital data signals from the at least one second RAU forcommunication over the at least one uplink communications link. Themethod also includes receiving in the at least one second RAU thedownlink digital data signals and communicating the received downlinkdigital data signals to client devices. The method also includesreceiving in the at least one second RAU uplink digital data signalsfrom the client devices. The method also includes propagating thereceived downlink digital data signals and the received uplink digitaldata signals for receipt by the first RAU.

In another embodiment, a distributed antenna system supporting digitaldata signal propagation among remote antenna units is disclosed. Thedistributed antenna system comprises a digital data services (DDS)controller communicatively coupled to a digital data network. The DDSswitch is configured to receive downlink digital data signals from thedigital data network and distribute the received downlink digital datasignals over at least one downlink communications link. The DDS switchis also configured to receive uplink digital data signals over at leastone uplink communications link and provide the received digital datasignals to the digital data network. The distributed antenna system alsoincludes a remote antenna cluster. The remote antenna cluster includes afirst remote antenna unit (RAU). The first RAU is configured to receivethe downlink digital data signals over the at least one downlinkcommunications link and communicate the received downlink digital datasignals to client devices. The first RAU is also configured to receiveuplink digital data signals from the client devices and communicate thereceived uplink digital data signals over the at least one uplinkcommunications link. The first RAU is also configured to propagatereceived downlink digital data signals to at least one second RAU alsoincluded in the remote antenna cluster. The first RAU is also configuredto receive uplink digital data signals from the at least one second RAUfor communication over the at least one uplink communications link. Thedistributed antenna system also includes the at least one second RAU.The at least one second RAU is configured to receive the downlinkdigital data signals and communicate the received downlink digital datasignals to client devices. The at least one second RAU is alsoconfigured to receive uplink digital data signals from the clientdevices. The at least one second RAU is also configured to propagate thereceived downlink digital data signals and the received uplink digitaldata signals for receipt by the first RAU.

Examples of digital data services include, but are not limited toEthernet, WLAN, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax),Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and Long TermEvolution (LTE), etc. Further, as a non-limiting example, thedistributed antenna system may be an optical fiber-based distributedantenna system, but such is not required. The embodiments disclosedherein are also applicable to other remote antenna clusters anddistributed antenna systems, including those that include other forms ofcommunications media for distribution of communications signals,including electrical conductors and wireless transmission. Theembodiments disclosed herein may also be applicable to remote antennaclusters and distributed antenna systems and may also include more thanone communications media for distribution of communications signals(e.g., digital data services, RF communications services).

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing theembodiments as described herein, including the detailed description thatfollows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present embodiments, and are intendedto provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature andcharacter of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are included toprovide a further understanding, and are incorporated into andconstitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate variousembodiments, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples and operation of the concepts disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed antenna systemthat is configured to remotely distribute communications signals,wherein the communications signals can include digital data signals andradio-frequency (RF) communications signals;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of exemplary digital dataservices (DDS) controller and a remote antenna unit (RAU) that can bedeployed in the distributed antenna system of FIG. 1 to provide digitaldata services;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed antenna systemwith an exemplary remote antenna cluster comprised of a plurality ofRAUs configured to propagate digital data signals between each other andto a central RAU coupled to a network;

FIG. 4 is the exemplary distributed antenna system of FIG. 3illustrating digital data signals received at a RAU from a mobilewireless client device being propagated between other RAUs to a RAU incommunication with a personal computer client device;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of two exemplary RAUs that can be includedin the remote antenna cluster in FIGS. 3 and 4 configured to wireles slypropagate the digital data signals;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed antenna systemthat is configured to provide both digital data services andradio-frequency (RF) communications services;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the exemplary distributed antennasystem in FIG. 6 configured with multiple remote antenna clusters eachhaving a plurality of RAUs configured to propagate digital data signalsbetween each other and to central remote units coupled to a network;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distribution of downlinkIQ digital data signals multiplexed with control signals from a digitaldata services (DDS) controller to a central RAU in a remote antennacluster over a single optical fiber;

FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distribution of downlinkI digital data signals and downlink Q digital data signals multiplexedwith control signals from a DDS switch to a central RAU in a remoteantenna cluster over separate optical fibers;

FIG. 9B is a schematic diagram of another exemplary distribution ofdownlink I digital data signals and downlink Q digital data signalsmultiplexed with control signals from a DDS switch to a central RAU in aremote antenna cluster over separate optical fibers;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary distribution ofdownlink digital data signals and control signals between a DDS switchand a central RAU in a remote antenna cluster over separate opticalfibers; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a generalized representation of anexemplary computer system that can be included in any of the DDSswitchs, RAUs, and/or other modules provided in the exemplarydistributed antenna systems and/or their components described herein,wherein the exemplary computer system is adapted to execute instructionsfrom an exemplary computer-readable media.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, butnot all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the concepts may be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limiting herein;rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure willsatisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like referencenumbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include remote antennaclusters and related distributed antenna systems, components, andmethods that support digital data signal propagation between remoteantenna units (RAUs). The distributed antenna systems can facilitatedistributing digital data signals to distributed RAUs to provide digitaldata services. Wireless client devices in the communication range of aRAU can wirelessly communicate with the RAU to receive digital dataservices. As a non-limiting example, the RAUs may be wireless accesspoints that allow wireless client devices to connect to a wired networkusing a network protocol. The digital data signals may be communicatedat higher frequencies. Providing digital data services at higherfrequencies can support larger channel bandwidths and in turn higherdata rate transfers. Many digital data client devices can benefit fromhigher data transfer rates.

The remote antenna clusters and distributed antenna systems disclosedherein may be deployed in buildings or other indoor environments asnon-limiting examples. However, higher frequency wireless signals aremore easily attenuated or blocked from traveling through walls or otherbuilding structures where distributed antenna systems are installed. Inthis regard, the distributed antenna systems disclosed herein mayinclude RAUs configured to propagate the digital data signals betweeneach other. The RAUs may be grouped in remote antenna clusters and belocated sufficiently close to each other to avoid or reduce attenuationissues when the high-frequency digital data signals are propagatedbetween RAUs. The digital data signals may be propagated between RAUsfor digital data signals transmitted to wireless client devices in theremote antenna clusters and for digital data signals received fromwireless client devices in the remote antenna clusters. Digital datasignals received from wireless client devices can be propagated from RAUto RAU until the digital data signals reach a wired network device forcommunication over a network.

Before discussing examples of remote antenna clusters and distributedantenna systems that support digital data signal propagation betweenRAUs, exemplary distributed antenna systems capable of distributingfrequency modulated communications signals to distributed antenna unitsor RAUs are first described with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2. Examples thatsupport digital data signal propagation between RAUs are illustratedstarting at FIG. 3 and are discussed below. The distributed antennasystems in FIGS. 1 and 2 discussed below include distribution of radiofrequency (RF) communications signals; however, the distributed antennasystems are not limited to distribution of RF communications signals.Also note that while the distributed antenna systems in FIGS. 1 and 2discussed below include distribution of communications signals overoptical fiber, these distributed antenna systems are not limited todistribution over optical fiber. Distribution mediums could alsoinclude, but are not limited to, coaxial cable, twisted-pair conductors,wireless transmission and reception, and any combination thereof. Also,any combination can be employed that also involves optical fiber forportions of the distributed antenna system.

In this regard, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of adistributed antenna system 10. In this embodiment, the distributedantenna system 10 is an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system.The distributed antenna system 10 is configured to create one or moreantenna coverage areas for establishing communications with wirelessclient devices located in the RF range of the antenna coverage areas.The distributed antenna system 10 provides RF communication services(e.g., cellular services). In this embodiment, the distributed antennasystem 10 includes head-end equipment (HEE) 12 such as a head-end unit(HEU), one or more RAUs (RAUs) 14, and an optical fiber 16 thatoptically couples the HEE 12 to the RAU 14. The RAU 14 is a type ofremote communications unit. In general, a remote communications unit cansupport either wireless communications, wired communications, or both.The RAU 14 can support wireless communications and may also supportwired communications. The HEE 12 is configured to receive communicationsover downlink electrical RF signals 18D from a source or sources, suchas a network or carrier as examples, and provide such communications tothe RAU 14. The HEE 12 is also configured to return communicationsreceived from the RAU 14, via uplink electrical RF signals 18U, back tothe source or sources. In this regard in this embodiment, the opticalfiber 16 includes at least one downlink optical fiber 16D to carrysignals communicated from the HEE 12 to the RAU 14 and at least oneuplink optical fiber 16U to carry signals communicated from the RAU 14back to the HEE 12.

One downlink optical fiber 16D and one uplink optical fiber 16U could beprovided to support multiple channels each using wave-divisionmultiplexing (WDM), as discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/892,424 entitled “Providing Digital Data Services in OpticalFiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Systems, AndRelated Components and Methods,” incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. Other options for WDM and frequency-division multiplexing(FDM) are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424, anyof which can be employed in any of the embodiments disclosed herein.Further, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424 also disclosesdistributed digital data communications signals in a distributed antennasystem which may also be distributed in the distributed antenna system10 either in conjunction with RF communications signals or not.

The distributed antenna system 10 has an antenna coverage area 20 thatcan be disposed about the RAU 14. The antenna coverage area 20 of theRAU 14 forms an RF coverage area 21. The HEE 12 is adapted to perform orto facilitate any one of a number of Radio-over-Fiber (RoF)applications, such as RF identification (RFID), wireless local-areanetwork (WLAN) communication, or cellular phone service. Shown withinthe antenna coverage area 20 is a client device 24 in the form of amobile device as an example, which may be a cellular telephone as anexample. The client device 24 can be any device that is capable ofreceiving RF communications signals. The client device 24 includes anantenna 26 (e.g., a wireless card) adapted to receive and/or sendelectromagnetic RF signals.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, to communicate the electrical RFsignals over the downlink optical fiber 16D to the RAU 14, to in turn becommunicated to the client device 24 in the antenna coverage area 20formed by the RAU 14, the HEE 12 includes a radio interface in the formof an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter 28. The E/O converter 28converts the downlink electrical RF signals 18D to downlink optical RFsignals 22D to be communicated over the downlink optical fiber 16D. TheRAU 14 includes an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter 30 to convertreceived downlink optical RF signals 22D back to electrical RF signalsto be communicated wirelessly through an antenna 32 of the RAU 14 toclient devices 24 located in the antenna coverage area 20.

Similarly, the antenna 32 is also configured to receive wireless RFcommunications from client devices 24 in the antenna coverage area 20.In this regard, the antenna 32 receives wireless RF communications fromclient devices 24 and communicates electrical RF signals representingthe wireless RF communications to an E/O converter 34 in the RAU 14. TheE/O converter 34 converts the electrical RF signals into uplink opticalRF signals 22U to be communicated over the uplink optical fiber 16U. AnO/E converter 36 provided in the HEE 12 converts the uplink optical RFsignals 22U into uplink electrical RF signals, which can then becommunicated as uplink electrical RF signals 18U back to a network orother source. The HEE 12 in this embodiment is not able to distinguishthe location of the client device 24 in this embodiment. The clientdevice 24 could be in the range of any antenna coverage area 20 formedby an RAU 14.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the exemplary distributedantenna system 10 of FIG. 1 that provides electrical RF service signalsfor a particular RF service or application. In an exemplary embodiment,the HEE 12 includes a service unit 37 that provides electrical RFservice signals by passing (or conditioning and then passing) suchsignals from one or more outside systems 38 via a network link 39. As anon-limiting example, the outside system 38 may be a base station orbase transceiver station (BTS). The BTS 38 may be provided by a secondparty such as a cellular service provider, and can be co-located orlocated remotely from the HEE 12. A BTS is any station or signal sourcethat provides an input signal to the HEE 12 and can receive a returnsignal from the HEE 12.

In a typical cellular system, for example, a plurality of BTSs aredeployed at a plurality of remote locations to provide wirelesstelephone coverage. Each BTS serves a corresponding cell and when amobile client device enters the cell, the BTS communicates with themobile client device. Each BTS can include at least one radiotransceiver for enabling communication with one or more subscriber unitsoperating within the associated cell. As another example, wirelessrepeaters or bi-directional amplifiers could also be used to serve acorresponding cell in lieu of a BTS. Alternatively, radio input could beprovided by a repeater, picocell, or femtocell as other examples.

In a particular example embodiment, cellular signal distribution in thefrequency range from 400 MegaHertz (MHz) to 2.7 GigaHertz (GHz) aresupported by the distributed antenna system 10. Any other electrical RFsignal frequencies are possible. In another exemplary embodiment, theservice unit 37 provides electrical RF service signals by generating thesignals directly. In another exemplary embodiment, the service unit 37coordinates the delivery of the electrical RF service signals betweenclient devices 24 within the antenna coverage area 20.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the service unit 37 is electricallycoupled to the E/O converter 28 that receives the downlink electrical RFsignals 18D from the service unit 37 and converts them to correspondingdownlink optical RF signals 22D. In an exemplary embodiment, the E/Oconverter 28 includes a laser suitable for delivering sufficient dynamicrange for the RoF applications described herein, and optionally includesa laser driver/amplifier electrically coupled to the laser. Examples ofsuitable lasers for the E/O converter 28 include, but are not limitedto, laser diodes, distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, Fabry-Perot (FP)lasers, and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs).

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the HEE 12 also includes the O/Econverter 36, which is electrically coupled to the service unit 37. TheO/E converter 36 receives the uplink optical RF signals 22U and convertsthem to corresponding uplink electrical RF signals 18U. In an exampleembodiment, the O/E converter 36 is a photodetector, or a photodetectorelectrically coupled to a linear amplifier. The E/O converter 28 and theO/E converter 36 constitute a “converter pair” 35, as illustrated inFIG. 2.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the service unit 37 in theHEE 12 can include an RF signal conditioner unit 40 for conditioning thedownlink electrical RF signals 18D and the uplink electrical RF signals18U, respectively. The service unit 37 can include a digital signalprocessing unit (“digital signal processor”) 42 for providing to the RFsignal conditioner unit 40 an electrical signal that is modulated ontoan RF carrier to generate a desired downlink electrical RF signal 18D.The digital signal processor 42 is also configured to process ademodulation signal provided by the demodulation of the uplinkelectrical RF signal 18U by the RF signal conditioner unit 40. The HEE12 can also include an optional central processing unit (CPU) 44 forprocessing data and otherwise performing logic and computing operations,and a memory unit 46 for storing data, such as data to be transmittedover a WLAN or other network for example.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the RAU 14 also includes aconverter pair 48 comprising the OLE converter 30 and the E/O converter34. The OLE converter 30 converts the received downlink optical RFsignals 22D from the HEE 12 back into downlink electrical RF signals50D. The E/O converter 34 converts uplink electrical RF signals 50Ureceived from the client device 24 into the uplink optical RF signals22U to be communicated to the HEE 12. The OLE converter 30 and the E/Oconverter 34 are electrically coupled to the antenna 32 via an RFsignal-directing element 52, such as a circulator for example. The RFsignal-directing element 52 serves to direct the downlink electrical RFsignals 50D and the uplink electrical RF signals 50U, as discussedbelow. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the antenna 32 caninclude any type of antenna, including but not limited to one or morepatch antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/504,999, filed Aug. 16, 2006 entitled “Radio-over-Fiber TransponderWith A Dual-Band Patch Antenna System,” and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/451,553, filed Jun. 12, 2006 entitled “Centralized OpticalFiber-Based Wireless Picocellular Systems and Methods,” both of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the distributed antenna system 10also includes a power supply 54 that provides an electrical power signal56. The power supply 54 is electrically coupled to the HEE 12 forpowering the power-consuming elements therein. In an exemplaryembodiment, an electrical power line 58 runs through the HEE 12 and overto the RAU 14 to power the OLE converter 30 and the E/O converter 34 inthe converter pair 48, the optional RF signal-directing element 52(unless the RF signal-directing element 52 is a passive device such as acirculator for example), and any other power-consuming elementsprovided. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrical power line 58includes two wires 60 and 62 that carry a single voltage and areelectrically coupled to a DC power converter 64 at the RAU 14. The DCpower converter 64 is electrically coupled to the OLE converter 30 andthe E/O converter 34 in the converter pair 48, and changes the voltageor levels of the electrical power signal 56 to the power level(s)required by the power-consuming components in the RAU 14. In anexemplary embodiment, the DC power converter 64 is either a DC/DC powerconverter or an AC/DC power converter, depending on the type ofelectrical power signal 56 carried by the electrical power line 58. Inanother example embodiment, the electrical power line 58 (dashed line)runs directly from the power supply 54 to the RAU 14 rather than from orthrough the HEE 12. In another example embodiment, the electrical powerline 58 includes more than two wires and may carry multiple voltages.

It may be desirable to provide distributed antenna systems that providedigital data services for client devices. For example, it may bedesirable to provide digital data services to client devices locatedwithin a distributed antenna system. Wired and wireless devices may belocated in the building infrastructures that are configured to accessdigital data services. Examples of digital data services include, butare not limited to, Ethernet, WLAN, WiMax, WiFi, DSL, and LTE, etc.Ethernet standards could be supported, including but not limited to 100Megabits per second (Mbs) (i.e., fast Ethernet) or Gigabit (Gb)Ethernet, or ten Gigabit (10 G) Ethernet. Example of digital datadevices include, but are not limited to, wired and wireless servers,wireless access points (WAPs), gateways, desktop computers, hubs,switches, remote radio heads (RRHs), baseband units (BBUs), andfemtocells. A separate digital data services network can be provided toprovide digital data services to digital data devices.

It may also be desired to provide high-speed wireless digital dataservice connectivity with RAUs in a distributed antenna system. Oneexample would be Wireless Fidelity (WiFi). WiFi was initially limited indata rate transfer to 12.24 Megabits per section (Mb/s) and is providedat data transfer rates of up to 54 Mb/s using WLAN frequencies of 2.4GHz and 6 GHz. To increase data transfer rates, the frequency ofwireless signals could be increased to provide larger channel bandwidth.For example, the 60 GHz spectrum is an unlicensed spectrum that could beemployed. However, higher frequency wireless signals are more easilyattenuated or blocked from traveling through walls or other buildingstructures where distributed antenna systems are installed.

In this regard, the distributed antenna systems disclosed herein mayinclude RAUs configured to propagate the digital data signals betweeneach other. The RAUs may be grouped in remote antenna clusters and belocated sufficiently close to each other to avoid or reduce attenuationissues when the high-frequency digital data signals are propagatedbetween RAUs. The digital data signals may be propagated between RAUsfor digital data signals transmitted to wireless client devices in theremote antenna clusters and for digital data signals received fromwireless client devices in the remote antenna clusters. Received digitaldata signals from wireless client devices can be propagated from RAU toRAU until the digital data signals reach a wired network device forcommunication over a network.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed antenna system70 with an exemplary remote antenna cluster 72 comprised of a pluralityof RAUs 74(2)-74(N) configured to propagate digital data signals betweeneach other and to a central RAU 74(1) coupled to a digital data network76. Providing a central RAU 74(1) may avoid pulling communications linksto more locations throughout a building or structure in which thedistributed antenna system 70 is deployed. Each of the RAU 74(1)-74(N)contain antennas 75(1)-75(N) to be able to wirelessly communicate withother RAUs 74(1)-74(N) and client devices in the remote antenna cluster72. The RAUs 74(1)-74(N) could be similar to the RAU 14 in FIGS. 1 and2. The RAUs 74(1)-74(N) could be wireless access points (WAPs). Asillustrated in FIG. 3, a digital data services (DDS) controller 78 maybe interfaced with the digital data network 76 to control receipt anddistribution of downlink and uplink digital data signals 80D, 80Ubetween the digital data network 76 and the remote antenna cluster 72. Ahead-end media controller (HMC) 82 may be provided to convert theelectrical digital data signals 80D, 80U to optical digital data signalsif the digital data signals 80D, 80U are to be transported to the remoteantenna cluster 72 via main downlink and uplink optical fibercommunications links 84D, 84U, as is provided in FIG. 4.

The main downlink and uplink optical fiber communications links 84 actas a back haul to the HMC 82 and DDS switch 78. Providing downlink anduplink optical fiber communications links 84D, 84U as the communicationsmedium between the HMC 82 and the remote antenna cluster 72 may beadvantageous due to the high bandwidth and data transfer rates that canbe supported by optical fiber. However, other communications linkmediums other than optical fiber can be employed if desired. As will bediscussed in more detail below, each of the RAUs 74(1)-74(N) can providedigital data signals to and from each other and between client deviceswhere a sufficiently high data transfer rate is needed to support thecommunications of the remote antenna cluster 72.

The DDS switch 78 can include only a media converter for provisionalmedia conversion functionality or can include additional functionalityto facilitate digital data services. The DDS switch 78 is a controllerconfigured to provide digital data services over a communications link,interface, or other communications channel or line, which may be eitherwired, wireless, or a combination of both. The HMC 82 can include ahousing configured to house digital media converters (DMCs) to interfaceto the DDS switch 78 and provide digital data services. For example, theDDS switch 78 could include an Ethernet switch. The DDS switch 78 may beconfigured to provide Gigabit (Gb) Ethernet digital data service as anexample. The HMC 82 is configured to convert electrical digital signalsto optical digital signals, and vice versa.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, each of the RAUs 74(1-N) areprovided in different zones, labeled Zone 0 through Zone 4 in thisexample. Each Zone is selected to provide sufficient wireless coveragein the distributed antenna system 70 for client devices. Further, theZones are selected to be of a size so that the frequency of the downlinkand uplink digital data signals 80D, 80U supported by the RAUs 74(1-N)will travel far enough before being attenuated or otherwise blocked forthe downlink and uplink digital data signals 80D, 80U to reach or bepropagated to another RAU 74 eventually reaching the central RAU 74(1)and being distributed to the digital data network 76. For example, thewireless communications signals may be modulated about a centerfrequency of 60 GHz as a non-limiting example. The central RAU 74(1) iscommunicatively coupled to the HMC 82 via the main downlink and uplinkoptical fiber communications links 84D, 84U. The central RAU 74(1) isresponsible for distributing any of the downlink digital data signals80D to the other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) and receiving or collecting the uplinkdigital data signals 80U received by the RAUs 74(2)-74(N) eitherdirectly or received through propagation from another RAU 74(2)-74(N) tobe provided to the digital data network 76. The central RAU 74(1) couldbe a gateway that is configured to communicate digital data signalsbetween the network created by the remote antenna cluster 72 and thedigital data network 76.

In this regard, the remote antenna cluster 72 supports digital datasignal 80D, 80U propagation among RAUs 74(1)-74(N). A first or centralRAU 74(1) is provided and configured to receive downlink digital datasignals 80D from a remotely located digital data services (DDS) switch78 over at least one downlink communications link in the form of themain downlink optical fiber communications link 84D in this embodiment.For example, the DDS switch 78 may be an Ethernet switch. The centralRAU 74(1) is configured to communicate the received downlink digitaldata signals 80D to client devices in the distributed antenna system 70.The central RAU 74(1) is also configured to receive uplink digital datasignals 80U directly from the client devices in the distributed antennasystem 70 and communicate the received uplink digital data signals 80Uover at least one uplink communications link provided in the form of themain uplink optical fiber 84U in this embodiment to the DDS switch 78.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3 the central RAU 74(1) is alsoconfigured to propagate received downlink digital data signals 80D tothe other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) in the remote antenna cluster 72. The centralRAU 74(1) is also configured to receive uplink digital data signals 80Ufrom the other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) for communication over the main uplinkoptical fiber communications link 84U. The other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) areeach configured to receive the downlink digital data signals 80D andcommunicate the received downlink digital data signals 80D to clientdevices 90(1), 90(2) in their communication range, as illustrated inFIG. 4. As non-limiting examples, other types of client devices mayinclude wireless devices, mobile devices such as cellular phones orsmart phones, electronic devices that include wireless radios, such ascomputers, displays, cameras, video recorders.

The other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) are also configured to receive uplink digitaldata signals 80U from the client devices 90(1), 90(2), as illustrated inFIG. 4. The other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) are also configured to propagate thereceived uplink digital data signals 80U received from the clientdevices 90(1), 90(2) between each other and for eventual receipt by thecentral RAU 74(1). The central RAU 74(1) can provide the uplink digitaldata signals 80U to any of the other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) and/or the digitaldata network 76 over the main uplink optical fiber 84U. The other RAUs74(2)-74(N) are also configured to propagate received downlink digitaldata signals 80D to other RAUs 74(2)-74(N) for networked communicationsbetween different RAUs 74(1)-74(N) as illustrated in FIG. 4. Forexample, if it is desired to communicate uplink digital data signals 80Ufrom client device 90(1) to client device 90(2) in FIG. 4, RAU 74(3) canpropagate these communications through the other RAUs 74(2), 74(1),74(4), and to 74(N) until the communications reach client device 90(2).

The communication connections for signal propagation for both downlinkand uplink digital data signal 80D, 80U communications between thecentral RAU 74(1) and other RAUs 74(2)-74(N), or between RAUs74(2)-74(N) can be through wireless communications or a physicalcommunication link 86. As non-limiting examples, the physicalcommunication link 86 could be electrical conductor(s) or could beoptical fiber, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The physical communication link86 could also include a power link 88 to provide power to RAUs74(1)-74(N). The RAUs 74(1)-74(N) include power consuming components forproviding communications in the distributed antenna system 70. If it isdesired to not require a local power source for the RAUs 74(1)-74(N),providing the power link 88 of the physical communications link 86 canbe employed to provide power to the RAUs 74(1)-74(N).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of two exemplary RAUs 74(2), 74(3) thatcan be included in the remote antenna cluster 72 in FIGS. 3 and 4 andconfigured to propagate the digital data signals 80D, 80U to differentclient devices 90(1), 90(2). For example, client device 90(3) may be awireless audio/video (A/V) transmitter in the remote antenna cluster 72(see FIG. 4) that is desired to transmit A/V information to a wirelessdisplay client device 90(4) also in the remote antenna cluster 72 (seeFIG. 4). In this regard, the wireless A/V transmitter 90(3) wouldtransmit, via antenna 91(3) A/V signals in the form of uplink digitaldata signals 80U to the RAU 74(2). The reception antenna 92(2) of theRAU 74(2) would receive the A/V uplink digital data signals 80U from theclient device 90(3) which may be forwarded to circuitry, such as a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) 94(2), as an example for processing. Ifthe display client device 90(4) is in the proximity of a different RAUthan RAU 74(2), for example RAU 74(3), RAU 74(2) can propagate orforward, via physical link or wireless communications, the A/V uplinkdigital data signals 80U from the client deice 90(3) to RAU 74(3). Inthis example, RAU 74(2) would transmit the A/V uplink digital datasignals 80U via the transmission antenna 96(2) to the reception antenna92(3) in the RAU 74(3). The A/V uplink digital data signals 80U couldthen be forwarded for processing to another FPGA 94(3) and thentransmitted by transmission antenna 96(3) to the display client device90(3). The display client device 90(4) has a wireless reception antenna91(4) to receive the uplink A/V digital data signals 80U.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, alternatively, the communicationlink between the RAUs 74(2), 74(3) could be the downlink and uplinkphysical communication links 86D, 86U. A downlink communications link86D and an uplink communications link 86U could be provided between theRAUs 74(2), 74(3) to propagate digital data signals therebetween,including the uplink A/V digital data signals 80U. Further, any type ofmodulation of the digital data signals propagated between RAUs 74(2),74(3) can be provided. For example, amplitude modulation (AM), frequencymodulation (FM), or IQ modulation could be employed to modulate thedigital data signals 80D, 80U. For example, the wireless transmitters98(2), 98(3), and wireless receivers 100(2), 100(3) could be IQtransmitters and receivers, respectively that are configured to transmitand receive the digital data signals via IQ modulation. This modulationcan also be provided over the physical communication link 86 as well.

It may be desired to also provide other communications services in thedistributed antenna system 70. For example, FIG. 6 is a schematicdiagram of the distributed antenna system 70 in FIGS. 3 and 4, butconfigured to provide both digital data services and radio-frequency(RF) communications services. FIG. 7 illustrates multiple remote antennaclusters 72(1)-72(N) to provide digital data services along with RFcommunication services in the distributed antenna system 70. Thecomponents of the distributed antenna system 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 toprovide RF communications services can be included in the distributedantenna system 70, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the HEE 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided. TheHEE 12 receives the downlink electrical RF signals 18D from a basetransceiver station (BTS) 104. As previously discussed, the HEE 12converts the downlink electrical RF signals 18D to downlink optical RFsignals 22D to be distributed to the RAUs 14(1-N). The HEE 12 is alsoconfigured to convert the uplink optical RF signals 22U received fromthe RAUs 14(1-N) into uplink electrical RF signals 18U to be provided tothe BTS 104 and on to a network 106 connected to the BTS 104. A patchpanel 108 may be provided to receive the downlink and uplink opticalfibers 16D, 16U configured to carry the downlink and uplink optical RFsignals 22D, 22U. The downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U may bebundled together in one or more riser cables 110 and provided to one ormore ICUs 112, which can be provided to group digital data signals 80D,80U and RF signals 22D, 22U along with power to be distributed.

The HEE 12 may be configured to support any frequencies desired,including but not limited to US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies(824-849 MHz on uplink and 869-894 MHz on downlink), US FCC and IndustryCanada frequencies (1850-1915 MHz on uplink and 1930-1995 MHz ondownlink), US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (1710-1755 MHz onuplink and 2110-2155 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (698-716 MHzand 776-787 MHz on uplink and 728-746 MHz on downlink), EU R & TTEfrequencies (880-915 MHz on uplink and 925-960 MHz on downlink), EU R &TTE frequencies (1710-1785 MHz on uplink and 1805-1880 MHz on downlink),EU R & TTE frequencies (1920-1980 MHz on uplink and 2110-2170 MHz ondownlink), US FCC frequencies (806-824 MHz on uplink and 851-869 MHz ondownlink), US FCC frequencies (896-901 MHz on uplink and 929-941 MHz ondownlink), US FCC frequencies (793-805 MHz on uplink and 763-775 MHz ondownlink), and US FCC frequencies (2495-2690 MHz on uplink anddownlink).

Examples of ICUs 112 that may be provided in the distributed antennasystem 70 to distribute both downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16Ufor RF communication services and downlink and uplink optical fibercommunications links 84D, 84U for digital data services are described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/466,514 filed on May 15, 2009 andentitled “Power Distribution Devices, Systems, and Methods ForRadio-Over-Fiber (RoF) Distributed Communication,” incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety, and U.S. Patent Application Ser, No.61/330385 filed on May 2, 2010 entitled “Power Distribution in OpticalFiber-based Distributed Communication Systems Providing Digital Data andRadio-Frequency (RF) Communication Services, and Related Components andMethods,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

With continuing reference to FIG. 6, the HMC 82 in this embodiment isconfigured to convert downlink electrical digital signals (or downlinkelectrical digital data services signals) 80D over digital line cables114 from the DDS switch 78 into downlink optical digital signals (ordownlink optical digital data services signals) 80D that can becommunicated over downlink optical fiber communications link 84D to theRAUs 74, shown as access points (APs) 74(1-N) in FIG. 6. The HMC 82 isalso configured to receive uplink optical digital signals 80U from theAPs 74(1-N) and convert the uplink optical digital signals 80U intouplink electrical digital signals 80U to be communicated to the DDSswitch 78. In this manner, the digital data services can be provided aspreviously described. Client devices located at the APs 74 can accessthese digital data services and/or RF communication services dependingon their configuration.

With continuing reference to FIG. 6, some of the APs 74(1-N) areconnected to the RAUs 14. In the example of APs, the APs 74 provideaccess to the digital data services provided by the DDS switch 78. Thisis because the downlink and uplink optical fiber communications links84D, 84U carrying downlink and uplink optical digital data signals 80D,80U converted from downlink and uplink electrical digital signals fromthe HMC 82 are provided to the APs 74(1-N) via the digital line cables114 and RAUs 14 to provide the physical communications link. However, aspreviously discussed, the APs 74(1)-74(N) may communicate with eachother via wireless communications. Digital data client devices canaccess the APs 74(1)-74(N) to access digital data services providedthrough the DDS switch 78.

As previously discussed IQ modulation may be employed to transferdigital data signals between the DDS switch 78 and the central AP 74(1)and/or between the APs 74(1)-74(N) over physical link or wireles sly.Various distribution options are available in this regard, asillustrated in FIGS. 8-10B. These examples are illustrated with regardto downlink digital data signals 80D, but these examples can also applyto uplink digital downlink data signals 80U as well. In this regard,FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distribution of downlinkIQ digital data signals 80D multiplexed with control signals 120 over asingle downlink optical fiber communications link 84D. A frequencymultiplexor 122 multiplexes the downlink IQ digital data signals 80Dwith the control signals 120 before transmission on the downlink opticalfiber communications link 84D. A frequency de-multiplexor 124de-multiplexes the downlink IQ digital data signals 80D with the controlsignals 120.

FIG. 9A illustrates multiplexing the Q component 80D(Q) of the downlinkdigital data signals 80D with the control signals 120 via multiplexor122, and then de-multiplexing the Q component 80D(Q) of the downlinkdigital data signals 80D from the control signals 120 via de-multiplexer124. The multiplexed Q component 80D(Q) of the downlink digital datasignals 80D with the control signals 120 is communicated over a singledownlink optical fiber communications link 84D(2). The I component80D(I) of the downlink digital data signals 80D is communicated over aseparate downlink optical fiber 84D(1). FIG. 9B is similar to FIG. 9A,but the Q component 80D(Q) of the downlink digital data signals 80Dmultiplexed with the control signals 120 is further multiplexed with theI component 80D(I) of the downlink digital data signals 80D viamultiplexor 126. The multiplexed Q component 80D(Q) of the downlinkdigital data signals 80D multiplexed with the control signals 120 isde-multiplexed from the I component 80D(I) of the downlink digital datasignals 80D via de-multiplexor 128. FIG. 10 illustrates the I and Qcomponents 80D(I), 80D(Q) of the downlink digital data signals 80D andthe control signals 120 each being communicated over separate downlinkoptical fiber communications link 84D(1)-84D(3).

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram representation of additional detailregarding an exemplary RAU 74, DDS switch 78 that is adapted to executeinstructions from an exemplary computer-readable medium to perform thelocation services described herein. In this regard, the RAU 74, DDSswitch 78 may include a computer system 140 within which a set ofinstructions for performing any one or more of the location servicesdiscussed herein may be executed. The computer system 140 may beconnected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, anextranet, or the Internet. The computer system 140 may operate in aclient-server network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. While only a singledevice is illustrated, the term “device” shall also be taken to includeany collection of devices that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. The computer system 150 may be a circuitor circuits included in an electronic board card, such as a printedcircuit board (PCB) as an example, a server, a personal computer, adesktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA),a computing pad, a mobile device, or any other device, and mayrepresent, for example, a server or a user's computer.

The exemplary computer system 140 in this embodiment includes aprocessing device or processor 142, a main memory 144 (e.g., read-onlymemory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) such assynchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and a static memory 146 (e.g., flashmemory, static random access memory (SRAM), etc.), which may communicatewith each other via the data bus 148. Alternatively, the processingdevice 142 may be connected to the main memory 144 and/or static memory146 directly or via some other connectivity means. The processing device142 may be a controller, and the main memory 144 or static memory 146may be any type of memory.

The processing device 142 represents one or more general-purposeprocessing devices such as a microprocessor, central processing unit, orthe like. More particularly, the processing device 142 may be a complexinstruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instructionset computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW)microprocessor, a processor implementing other instruction sets, orprocessors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Theprocessing device 142 is configured to execute processing logic ininstructions 150 for performing the operations and steps discussedherein.

The computer system 140 may further include a network interface device152. The computer system 140 also may or may not include an input 154 toreceive input and selections to be communicated to the computer system140 when executing instructions. The computer system 140 also may or maynot include an output 156, including but not limited to a display, avideo display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathoderay tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), and/ora cursor control device (e.g., a mouse).

The computer system 140 may or may not include a data storage devicethat includes instructions 158 stored in a computer-readable medium 160.The instructions 158 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 144 and/or within the processing device 142during execution thereof by the computer system 140, the main memory 144and the processing device 142 also constituting computer-readablemedium. The instructions 158 may further be transmitted or received overa network 162 via the network interface device 152.

While the computer-readable medium 160 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructionsfor execution by the processing device and that cause the processingdevice to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theembodiments disclosed herein. The term “computer-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical and magnetic medium, and carrier wave signals.

The embodiments disclosed herein include various steps. The steps of theembodiments disclosed herein may be performed by hardware components ormay be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used tocause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with theinstructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may beperformed by a combination of hardware and software.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer programproduct, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (orcomputer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which maybe used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) toperform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein. Amachine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes amachine-readable storage medium (e.g., read only memory (“ROM”), randomaccess memory (“RAM”), magnetic disk storage medium, optical storagemedium, flash memory devices, etc.), a machine-readable transmissionmedium (electrical, optical, acoustical, or other form of propagatedsignals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.)),etc.

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the previousdiscussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description,discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“determining,” “displaying,” or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device,that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical(electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers andmemories into other data similarly represented as physical quantitieswithin the computer system memories or registers or other suchinformation storage, transmission, or display devices.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computer or other apparatus. Various systems may beused with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it mayprove convenient to construct more specialized apparatuses to performthe required method steps. The required structure for a variety of thesesystems will appear from the description above. In addition, theembodiments described herein are not described with reference to anyparticular programming language. It will be appreciated that a varietyof programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of theembodiments as described herein.

Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithms describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedas electronic hardware, instructions stored in memory or in anothercomputer-readable medium and executed by a processor or other processingdevice, or combinations of both. The components of the distributedantenna systems described herein may be employed in any circuit,hardware component, integrated circuit (IC), or IC chip, as examples.Memory disclosed herein may be any type and size of memory and may beconfigured to store any type of information desired. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability, various illustrative components,blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generallyin terms of their functionality. How such functionality is implementeddepends upon the particular application, design choices, and/or designconstraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans mayimplement the described functionality in varying ways for eachparticular application, but such implementation decisions should not beinterpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the presentembodiments.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A controllermay be a processor. A processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM),Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically ErasableProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable medium known in the art.An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a remote station. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in aremote station, base station, or server.

It is also noted that the operational steps described in any of theexemplary embodiments herein are described to provide examples anddiscussion. The operations described may be performed in numerousdifferent sequences other than the illustrated sequences. Furthermore,operations described in a single operational step may actually beperformed in a number of different steps. Additionally, one or moreoperational steps discussed in the exemplary embodiments may becombined. It is to be understood that the operational steps illustratedin the flow chart diagrams may be subject to numerous differentmodifications as will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.Those of skill in the art would also understand that information andsignals may be represented using any of a variety of differenttechnologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands,information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referencedthroughout the above description may be represented by voltages,currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, opticalfields or particles, or any combination thereof.

Further, as used herein, it is intended that terms “fiber optic cables”and/or “optical fibers” include all types of single mode and multi-modelight waveguides, including one or more optical fibers that may beupcoated, colored, buffered, ribbonized and/or have other organizing orprotective structure in a cable such as one or more tubes, strengthmembers, jackets or the like. The optical fibers disclosed herein can besingle mode or multi-mode optical fibers. Likewise, other types ofsuitable optical fibers include bend-insensitive optical fibers, or anyother expedient of a medium for transmitting light signals. An exampleof a bend-insensitive, or bend resistant, optical fiber is ClearCurve®Multimode fiber commercially available from Corning Incorporated.Suitable fibers of this type are disclosed, for example, in U.S. PatentApplication Publication Nos. 2008/0166094 and 2009/0169163, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the embodiments set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theembodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, theremote antenna clusters and distributed antenna systems could includeany type or number of communications mediums, including but not limitedto electrical conductors, optical fiber, and air (i.e., wirelesstransmission). The distributed antenna systems may distribute any typeof communications signals, including but not limited to RFcommunications signals and digital data communications signals, examplesof which are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424entitled “Providing Digital Data Services in Optical Fiber-basedDistributed Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Systems, And RelatedComponents and Methods,” incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. Multiplexing, such as WDM and/or FDM, may be employed in anyof the distributed antenna systems described herein, such as accordingto the examples provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the description and claims arenot to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and thatmodifications and other embodiments are intended to be included withinthe scope of the appended claims. It is intended that the embodimentscover the modifications and variations of the embodiments provided theycome within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

We claim:
 1. A remote antenna cluster supporting signal propagationamong remote antenna units, comprising: a first remote antenna unit(RAU) configured to: receive downlink signals over at least one downlinkcommunications link and communicate the received downlink signals toclient devices; receive uplink signals from the client devices andcommunicate the received uplink signals over at least one uplinkcommunications link; propagate received downlink signals to at least onesecond RAU; and receive uplink signals from the at least one second RAUfor communication over the at least one uplink communications link; theat least one second RAU configured to: receive the downlink signals andcommunicate the received downlink signals to client devices; receiveuplink signals from the client devices; and propagate the receiveduplink signals for receipt by the first RAU.
 2. The remote antennacluster of claim 1, wherein the at least one second RAU is furtherconfigured to propagate received downlink signals to another RAU.
 3. Theremote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the first RAU is configuredto propagate the received downlink signals from the at least onedownlink communications link.
 4. The remote antenna cluster of claim 1,wherein the first RAU is configured to propagate the received downlinksignals over a physical communications link to the at least one secondRAU.
 5. The remote antenna cluster of claim 4, wherein the physicalcommunications link is comprised from the group consisting of at leastone electrical conductor and at least one optical fiber.
 6. The remoteantenna cluster of claim 5, wherein the physical communications linkfurther includes a power link configured to deliver power to the firstRAU.
 7. The remote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the first RAU isconfigured to propagate the received downlink signals wirelessly to theat least one second RAU.
 8. The remote antenna cluster of claim 1,wherein the first RAU is configured to receive the uplink signals fromthe at least one second RAU over a physical communications link.
 9. Theremote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the first RAU is configuredto wirelessly receive the uplink signals from the at least one secondRAU.
 10. The remote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the at least onesecond RAU is comprised of a plurality of second RAUs.
 11. The remoteantenna cluster of claim 10, wherein a first RAU among the plurality ofsecond RAUs is configured to: propagate downlink signals to a second RAUamong the plurality of second RAUs; and receive uplink signals from thesecond RAU among the plurality of second RAUs.
 12. The remote antennacluster of claim 11, wherein the second RAU among the plurality ofsecond RAUs is configured to: propagate downlink signals to the firstRAU among the plurality of second RAUs; and receive uplink signals fromthe first RAU among the plurality of second RAUs.
 13. The remote antennacluster of claim 1, wherein the first RAU and the at least one secondRAU are configured in a RAU cluster.
 14. The remote antenna cluster ofclaim 1, wherein the downlink signals are modulated about a centerfrequency of 60 GHz.
 15. The remote antenna cluster of claim 1, whereinat least one of the at least one downlink communications link and the atleast one uplink communications link further includes a power linkconfigured to deliver power to the at least one second RAU.
 16. Theremote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the at least one downlinkcommunications link is comprised of a single optical fiber.
 17. Theremote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the at least one uplinkcommunications link is comprised of a single optical fiber.
 18. Theremote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the at least one downlinkcommunications link is comprised of a plurality of optical fibers. 19.The remote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the at least one uplinkcommunications link is comprised of a plurality of optical fibers. 20.The remote antenna cluster of claim 1, further comprising a frequencymultiplexor configured to frequency multiplex IQ modulated downlinksignals communicated over the at least one downlink communications linkto the first RAU.
 21. The remote antenna cluster of claim 1, furthercomprising a frequency de-multiplexor configured to frequencyde-multiplex IQ modulated downlink signals received from the at leastone downlink communications link.
 22. The remote antenna cluster ofclaim 1, wherein the first RAU is configured to: wirelessly communicatethe received downlink signals to wireless client devices; and wirelesslyreceive the uplink signals from the wireless client devices.
 23. Theremote antenna cluster of claim 1, wherein the at least one second RAUis configured to: wirelessly communicate the received downlink signalsto wireless client devices; and wirelessly receive the uplink signalsfrom the wireless client devices.
 24. The remote antenna cluster ofclaim 1, wherein the first RAU is configured to: receive the downlinksignals from a remotely located controller; and communicate the receiveduplink signals over the at least one uplink communications link to theremotely located controller.
 25. The remote antenna cluster of claim 24,wherein the remotely located controller is comprised of a switch. 26.The remote antenna cluster of claim 25, wherein the switch is comprisedof an Ethernet switch.
 27. A method of propagating signals betweenremote antenna units in a remote antenna cluster, comprising: receivingin a first remote antenna unit (RAU) downlink signals over at least onedownlink communications link and communicating the received downlinksignals to client devices; receiving in the first RAU, uplink signalsfrom the client devices and communicating the received uplink signalsover at least one uplink communications link; propagating the receiveddownlink signals from the first RAU to at least one second RAU; andreceiving uplink signals from the at least one second RAU forcommunication over the at least one uplink communications link;receiving in the at least one second RAU the downlink signals andcommunicating the received downlink signals to client devices; receivingin the at least one second RAU uplink signals from the client devices;and propagating the received downlink signals and the received uplinksignals for receipt by the first RAU.
 28. The method of claim 27,further comprising the at least one second RAU propagating receiveddownlink signals to another RAU.
 29. The method of claim 27, furthercomprising the first RAU propagating the received downlink signals fromthe at least one downlink communications link.
 30. The method of claim27, further comprising the first RAU propagating the received downlinksignals over a physical communications link to the at least one secondRAU.
 31. The method of claim 27, comprising: receiving in the first RAU,the downlink signals over the at least one downlink communications linkfrom a remotely located controller; and communicating the receiveduplink signals over the at least one uplink communications link to theremotely located controller.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein theremotely located controller is comprised of a switch.